International Trade and Investment Policy

Since the 1990s, achieving integration into the world economy through international trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) has been a central focus of development strategies in developing countries.

Discussion: "International Financial Institutions in a Changing World Order"

Yet within the last decade, the global business environment has significantly changed. Firstly, the key drivers of growth have moved from the Triad (United States, European Union and Japan) to major emerging and developing countries, most notably to China. Secondly, the integration of various countries into free trade zones as well as the conclusion of international investment agreements have changed the economic environment for developing countries. Thirdly, the increasing organisation of production processes in the form of global production networks has had significant implications for the possibilities and limitations of export-oriented developing strategies.

In light of these developments, ÖFSE focuses on the question of how international tradeand FDI can support inclusive and poverty reducing economic development. Furthermore, ÖFSE examines which policies of both partner and donor countries are necessary to achieve this.

Here, the focus currently lies on three topics:

global production networks

investment policy and international investment agreements

as well as EU trade policy, in particular the EU-US trade and investment agreement TTIP